There were shots fired above the bow in previous votes, but this one is a direct hit. When the likes of Mark McGwire and Raphael Palmeiro failed to receive anything close to the 75 percent of the votes required by the National Baseball Hall of Fame for induction, it was far from a surprise and almost a given because both players have proven ties to performance-enhancing drug use (either by a failed drug test or admission). But this year’s ballot included many names that are merely suspected of using, making it a very interesting one.

The Baseball Writer’s Association of America made their collective opinion heard loud and clear by barely giving consideration to players that would have been automatic ins if not for the PED issue. Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds have never failed a drug test or been found guilty of perjury, but the court of public opinion has found them guilty. In both their first times on the ballot, Clemens (37.6%) and Bonds (36.2%) fell well short of getting into the hallowed halls in Cooperstown.

Mike Piazza (57.8%) may be a victim of the so-called steroid era, even though no one has ever even publicly accused him of using PEDs. But because he was a large framed, strong power hitter, the former Mets and Dodgers catcher is quietly looked at as another possible user.

As a matter of fact, the BBWAA did not vote on a single player for induction, the first time this has occured since 1996. Craig Biggio, another muscular player like Piazza that has never been linked to PEDs, came close with 68.2%.

Sammy Sosa, who battled with McGwire (16.9%) in 1998 for the league lead in home runs and who could break Roger Maris’s record of 61 first, received 12.5%. Palmeiro held up the list from the bottom with a mere 8.8%.